Interesting Vintage Photo

RalphG

RalphG

Well-known member
Some crazy action going on here in this vintage photo. Couple of 52? Ford convertibles performing stunts. Two brave drivers with nothing but a plastic helmet between them and danger.
 

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Yes! Mixing physics and testosterone with the chance of mutilation is the best feeling ever! Those guys were having fun! Wood landing ramp! WTF!!!
 
Air borne looks like a 54 one on the ground I am thinking Meteor cool as heck none the less.. Saw similar as a kid, but no pictures..
 
Somebody's got to remember the name of that troup of daredevils.
The name was something like: "Jimmy .........'s Daredevils".
They used Fords exclusively, performed at fairs and racetracks,,,

Anybody?
 
RalphG said:
Are you maybe thinking of Joie Chitwood? They drove 56 Chevs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77U7ewfZgJ8
Click to expand...

When I young O so young
One of Joie Chitwoods performers had family members live about a 1/2 mile from us.
There were in town at a small fair, but one afternoon a few of the performers Did the slide for life right out in the street.
The street is way to busy to do any thing close to that now.

THE SLIDE FOR LIFE was the one where one guy would stand on the rear bumper while holding onto a pair of ropes the car would get up to speed then the guy on the bumper would lower him self BUTT first down to the street letting go of the ropes when his BUTT touched the street.
The only thing between his BUTT an shredded BOOM / BOOM
was a few inches of leather.

Seeing it preformed on our street had a very BIG WOW factor::::::::::::
 
Joey Chitwood would come to the Big "E" fair in W. Springfield, Mass. when I was young. I remember him using Chevy Vegas in the early 70's.
 
I saw Joey Chitwood and the Hell Drivers....or something close to that....at the New Jersey State Fair at Trenton in the early 60's. Haven't thought about that experience in about 50 years!!!!
 
Here's one of Aut Swenson's Thrillcade Daredevils in some '50 Ford 4dr sedans.
 

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Do any of you remember them driving around the track balancing the car on just two wheels. Talk about driving by the seat of your pants!! I have seen their show several times.
 
Another thrill show that frequented fairs like our Fairfield County fair was Rotroff. I remember they used the 49-50 Fords and later the brand new Mustang.They did a lot of the two wheel driving stuff. Joey or Joei Chitwood son or mayby by now grandson is a Nascar exec I think and sells a lot of memobilia,posters and such on Ebay under Chitwood.
 
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